Mitosis only undergoes one splitting of the cell (doubling the number of the original).
Steps of Mitosis: 1. The DNA inside the cell is duplicated. 2. The DNA copies are separated. 2 nuclei form. 3. The cell divides. 4. Created are 2 half-size cells with identical genetic information. 5. Each half cell grows to full size.
Meiosis
Meiosis undergoes two splits (quadrupling) the number of cells.
Steps of Meiosis: 1. Inside the parent cell, chromosomes created identical copies of themselves. 2. Similar chromosomes pair up. 3. Sections of DNA get swapped. 4. The pairs of chromosomes divide (into 2). 5. Then those newly formed chromosomes divide again (each into 2, together equalling 4).
University of Leicester. The Cell Cycle, Mitosis And Meiosis. http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/genetics/vgec/highereducation/topics/cellcycle-mitosis-meiosis (accessed 17 July 2013)